Service conditions of Defence Personnel are extremely exacting, tough, rigorous and peculiar to the Services. To maintain a fit and youthful profile, defence personnel, particularly of the lower ranks, are retired at a young age with limited pension, saddled with pending domestic responsibilities. The Army?s engagement in counter-insurgency operations in J & K and the North East has also resulted in casualties every year, leaving behind widows and children in need of support.

To encourage higher technical and professional education for the wards of widows and ex-servicemen of Armed Forces, it has been decided to introduce a new scholarship scheme known as the Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme from the Academic year 2006-07.

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERSONS TO BE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP

The total number of wards of ex-servicemen/widows receiving this scholarship at any point of time would be limited to 4000. In addition, 1000 number of scholarships would be given for wards of Para Military Forces controlled by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and others (e.g. Railways) which would be divided as 910 for MHA and 90 for Railways. In case of under subscription, there can be inter-se reallocation between MHA and Railways. If some seats still remains unfilled, that will be transferred to MOD. MHA would be the nodal Ministry for implementing the scheme for the forces controlled by MHA and Railways.

ELIGIBILITY

Students eligible for the scholarship

(a) Wards of ex-servicemen and their widows (below officer rank)

(b) Wards of widows of ex-servicemen died in harness due to causes attributed to military service.

(c) Widows of ex-servicemen died in harness.

(d) The scheme is open only for widows and unmarried wards of ESM/ widows. However, marriage/re-marriage at a subsequent date would not disqualify the Awardee.